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On Sunday, the Lundberg Survey reported gasoline prices fell more than 5.5 cents a gallon. That may not sound like a whole lot, but it's the first price drop all year.

One of several tax cuts passed by Congress this summer -- a repeal of the tax on estates -- was formally dispatched from Capitol Hill to the White House today -- but not by the usual means. The document made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue on board the tractor of Lynn Cornwell, a cattle rancher from Montana. President Clinton has said he will veto the repeal, and Congress is not expected to muster the votes to override him. But Congressional Republicans are determined to keep the issue in the public eye. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.

Minority enrollment is up at Florida's state universities and Governor Jeb Bush is attributing the increase to his "One Florida" program. The governor's plan abolished affirmative action in state college and university admissions. It substituted a program where the top 20% of students in each high school class is guaranteed admission to a state institution. But critics say the governor is off base, because other outreach and recruiting efforts are really behind the increase. Susan Gage of Florida Public Radio reports.

The Republican National Committee has decided not to air an ad attacking the credibility of Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential nominee. The ad was apparently controversial within the party headquarters, and today the GOP's own nominee, Texas Governor George W. Bush said he approved of the decision to reject it. The episode was sure to renew debate over the relationship between the committee and the campaign, which, under campaign laws, are required to act independently. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Oil shortages in Europe and elsewhere in the world have resulted in price increases in the United States -- where gasoline prices are at a ten year high. The nationwide average price of a gallon of unleaded regular is now nearly a-dollar-sixty -- with prices far higher in some locations. The Presidential candidates have been addressing the issue. Democrat Al Gore today proposed tapping the government's emergency oil reserve as a means of lowering prices before the cold weather arrives. NPR's Madeleine Brand reports.

Companies offering new telecom services say they're having trouble reaching many potential customers. They say landlords limit which firms can put equipment into office buildings and apartments, and that deprives tenants of the new services. Landlords say they need to protect their property and that older buildings have limited space available. Landlords collect fees from companies that install equipment. The FCC will soon decide whether landlords have to allow open access to their buildings. NPR's Larry Abramson reports.

Game Misconduct - A new opera about...hockey. This opera was written by Canadians. There's the high drama of a country defending its' national pride against marauding invaders (that would be the American hockey team); the tragedy of defeat; the exultation of the fans; and the loss of a way of life. The music was composed by Leslie Uyeda; the libretto written by Tom Cone. Game Misconduct premieres tonight as part of Festival Vancouver - a three-week music festival. Performances of the opera continue through next week. Marcie Sillman, of member station KUOW, reports.

The Senate has been trying for several weeks to complete action on a bill granting permanent normal trade status to China. But several senators have resisted the bill, trying to attach amendments that would require various changes in Chinese policy. One such effort was directed at China's foreign arms sales, which have furthered efforts by other countries to develop weapons of mass destruction. But today, the Senate voted not to attach any weapons sales provisions to the trade bill. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports.

Internet message boards increasingly are used by investors to trade information about companies and executives running them. Often the messages are highly critical and may even include inflammatory opinions. Some executives claim their stock value has been ruined by such attacks and their personal reputations shattered. Now some are seeking to sue these anonymous message board authors for libel but first must win access to the identity of the critics. The dispute raises questions about freedom of speech on the internet. NPR's Phillip Davis has a report.

President Clinton announced his support today for a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims. A spokesman says Mr. Clinton is not endorsing any specific proposal, but the general idea of such an amendment. The probable Republican presidential nominee, Bob Dole, already has come out in favor of a victims' rights amendment. The version Dole is supporting would make sure crime victims are notified of court proceedings, given the chance to be heard on plea bargains and sentencing, and informed if the offender escapes or is released from jail. NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports.